Christopher Elliott

Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that empowers consumers to solve their problems and helps those who can't. He's the author of numerous books on consumer advocacy and writes three nationally syndicated columns. He also publishes the Elliott Report, a news site for consumers, and Elliott Confidential, a critically acclaimed newsletter about customer service. If you have a consumer problem you can't solve, contact him directly through his advocacy website. You can also follow him on X, Facebook, and LinkedIn, or sign up for his daily newsletter.

Sarah German redeemed an American Airlines gift card for a flight, canceled within 24 hours and asked for a refund. So why is the airline resisting?

Will American Airlines refund this gift card?

March 17, 2024March 9, 2020 by Christopher Elliott

Sarah German redeemed an American Airlines gift card for a flight, canceled within 24 hours and asked for a refund. So why is the airline resisting?

Sweta Shulka's Samsung phone is missing -- and so is her refund. She sent the device in for repair and now it's MIA. Can the Elliott Advocacy team help?

Can you help find my missing Samsung phone and get my refund?

May 10, 2024March 5, 2020 by Christopher Elliott

Sweta Shulka’s Samsung phone is missing — and so is her refund. Can the Elliott Advocacy team help?

When Margo Seymour's husband canceled his Hawaiian Airlines flight, the company offered a goodwill refund. But now it's five months later so where is it?

He canceled his Hawaiian Airlines flight, so where is the refund?

January 25, 2024February 7, 2020 by Christopher Elliott

When Margo Seymour’s husband canceled his Hawaiian Airlines flight, the company offered him a goodwill refund. But now it’s five months later with no refund in sight. Can we help?

Eric Simon's football team lost the big game. That loss forced him to cancel his Vrbo and he lost part of his refund, too. Can we help?

My football team lost the big game! Can I cancel my Vrbo rental?

January 25, 2024February 3, 2020 by Christopher Elliott

Eric Simon’s football team lost the big game — and then he lost part of his vacation rental refund, too. He wants to know: Can I cancel my Vrbo rental and get my money back if the owner agrees to it? Or does the vacation rental site get to decide? That’s a great question on the day after the Super Bowl, or any day that you find yourself $3,434 lighter in your bank account.

Macy's upgraded this consumer's credit card to the new American Express card without her knowledge and against her will. She wants her old card back.

Can Macy’s really upgrade my card without my permission?

October 26, 2024January 31, 2020 by Christopher Elliott

Macy’s upgraded Harriet Stenzel’s store-branded credit card to the new American Express card without her knowledge and against her will. Now she wants the Elliott Advocacy team to get her old card back. Can we do it?

Has the domestic first-class cabin become one big disappointment for travelers? Bonnie Friedman thinks so. What's going on with the upper class service?

Is the domestic first class cabin just one big disappointment?

January 25, 2024January 27, 2020 by Christopher Elliott

Has the domestic first-class cabin become one big disappointment for travelers? Bonnie Friedman thinks so. She’s been flying in the front of the plane for years and has witnessed the slow and sad decline of premium service.

Andy McNamara intended to take his wife to luxury suite in Las Vegas. So why did Priceline let him down and book him in the wrong room??

Priceline booked the wrong room! Where is my suite?

January 25, 2024January 22, 2020 by Christopher Elliott

Andy McNamara thought he’d found a bargain through Priceline on a suite in Las Vegas. For just $116 a night, a 75 percent price reduction from the published rate, he and his wife would stay in the 1,000-square foot Carioca Suite at the Rio All-Suite & Casino Hotel. But Priceline gave McNamara the wrong room — and it wanted to keep his money, too.

Pam Anderson thought she'd found a perfect tour on Viator through TripAdvisor -- until a "system error" forced them to pay for their tickets three times!

Can TripAdvisor help me with this Viator problem?

March 2, 2025January 6, 2020 by Christopher Elliott

When Pam Anderson and her boyfriend Marc Strenk visited Dubai this fall, they wanted to see the famous fountains. The couple thought they’d found a perfect tour on Viator through TripAdvisor — until a “system error” forced them to pay for their tickets three times.

That’s right, three times.

After Alaska Airlines cancels Marcos Schapira's flight, it seems to owe him a refund. But did the airline decide to keep his money or did the OTA?

Can you help me get my refund from Alaska Airlines?

January 25, 2024January 3, 2020 by Christopher Elliott

After Alaska Airlines cancels Marcos Schapira’s flight, it seems to owe him a refund. But did the airline decide to keep his money — or was it his online travel agency?

How Enterprise determines if you damaged a rental

July 2, 2025December 26, 2019 by Christopher Elliott

Enterprise has been accused of running a ding-and-dent scam so often by readers of this site, I’ve lost count.

Christopher Elliott

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